Shoe-forming last.



E. J. BLISS & E. F. WHITE. SHOE FORMING LAST. APPLIOATION IILYBD JAN. '2, 1909.

914,331 Patented M21122, 1909.

Wassas:

ELMER J. BLISS, OFED GAR TOWN,

AND EDWARD F. WHITE, OF QUINCLJWASSACHUSET-TS,

ASSIGNORS TO REGAL SHOE COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A-CQRPORATION OF MAINE.

I Specification of Letters Patent.

SHOE-FORMING LAST:

PatentedMarch. 2, I909.

Applieatinn filed-lammry 2, 1 909.- Serial-No. 470,503;

To all whom it mayaconcer'rt:

Be it; known that We,"ELMER J BnIssand EDWARD F; WHITE, citizens ,of' the United States, andresidents, respectively, at Edgartown, county of Dukes, and Quincy, county of Norfolk, Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful-Improvementsin Shoe- F'orming Lasts, of which the following is aspecification. l" 1 This invention relates to lasts, especially to the kind used inthemanufactur "Tot boots and shoes andis intended tonovide'a simple andstrong construction'Whichiwill-permitthe last to be removed fromthe-shoe-without breaking down, stretching, or distorting the waist portion of? the up er, even in cases where the last has a muc greatermeasurement around theball than' around the waist portion. This form-of'last' too is particularly well adapted in making'special shoes for feet having bunions or enlargements of the ball oint.

In general the invention comprises a last whose fore part is sectionally divlded by verrable side section having sliding on agement through the agency of a slotted p ate with the main section of the last so that when the last is in operative position in the shoe, it affords a strong and solid support-fol the lasting and leveling OJeratiOns, while permitting the withdrawal of the sections separately through the narrow waist portion of the shoe.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly broken away, of a last embodying the principles of. this invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof partly in section; and Fig. 3 is a vertical cross sectional view on the broken line as shown in Fig. 2.

In the practice of our invention according to the form illustrated in the drawings, the

fore part of the last is divided by a central vertical cut extending longitudinally from the instep to the toe portion of the last and by a transverse vertical out extending from the side of the last, to the rear end of the longitudinal dividing wall. In this way the side section b is entirely severed or separable from the main section a of said fore art. I In order to unite and firmly hol the we sections of the fore part together to sustain the work during the operations of lasting and leveling, we secure to the Inner lon itudmal as face of the sidel-sectlon b aslott plate e tical dividing cuts to form a completely sepawaist portion of the foot, while the allporwhose rear end is open and flared'as shown in Fig; 1, in order to more easily take in or receive the-retaining studs (1 which" are firmly embedded in the opposite longitudinal face of the main section a. The-shanks of the to studs a are of a diameter to-fit snugly in the slot of: the -plate a, while their outer endare provided with heads to keepsaid plate a snugly in'contact wit'h the vertieal faee ofthe main section a: As. shown in- Fig. 3- the slotted plate e is -inset fronrthe vert/ical face of theside section b se astolie-flush wit lisaidl surface, whi'ie adeeper channel, asshown at 12 is made- 150 allow the heads of 'tlie. studs a) to (project beyon'dthe inner-face of the 730- slotte platee: When the sections of the :fore part are closed together, they form asolid'continuous last block, the-partsof which arefirlnly and stronglyheld together but byreason of the 7 sliding engagement between the studs a and thes-lotted' plate 0, the main section can=be withdrawn separately from the side section and as the plane of divisioncuts directly throughthe ball of the last, this results in relieving the waist portion of all objectionable strain or stretch. v

To prevent the parts from sticking together, and to automatically start their separation, we may provide a spring ressed plunger a seated in a socket forms in the transverse division wall of the main section and projecting forward so as to exert a thrust or push against the rear face ofthe side section. Furthermore, the rear end of the side section may be slightly recessed .to receive the forward end of the plunger 11' so that the plunger thus accomplishes a two-fold purpose, namely, it sup orts the parts-against displacement-when t e, last ism normal 01p erative position, and second, it causes t e parts to separate automatically when the main section is moved toward the rear ofthe shoe towithdraw it.

Wehave shown inthis case the. last block provided with a sectional heel portion a and awedge-sha ed intermediate section at: as the divided ore part is e ually applicable to. a solid o'r to a hinged hee last.

Obviously with, this principle of construe tion, a last can be constructed so that the waist portion of the shoe will snugl' *fit the tion 0 the foot however large, may be given ample opportunity to expand or spread.

I seer AV ILA E thereof being open atthe rear to receive fastening. members located on thg o posite face of'the main section, saidslottc plate and fastenin members forming retaining means for hold ng the sections rigidly 111' 0 erative position during the lasting and leve ing opeiations, while permitting the separation of I the parts as the last i.- being removed from the shoefsubstantially as described.

Z A shoe-forming last embracing in its I construction a fore part divided longitudinally and/vertically into a main section and a separg ble ds section, the main section being provided w ith iaterallypro ecting studs and the side section being provided with a slotted, plate' having sliding engagement with said;- studs, said slot being open and fiared at its rear end to receive the studs whenthe se'e 25 tions are assembled together; while allowing their complete sep aration. substantially as described. l

3. -A shoe-forming last embracing a main section; a separabletsidejsegltion' longitudi nally divided thereiromby vertical cuts, and a longitudinally =movable spring-pressed plunger seated 1n the main section and engaging, a socket in the side section to hold the parts against lateral displacement, substantially as described.

4. A shoe-forming last embracing in its construction, a-dividedfore part embracing main and side 'sectionsverticall divided from each other, the side section eing provided with a slotted plate having slidin engagement with the main "sectionto hol the parts solidly together when the last is in'operative position, and means for automat1cally thrusting apartthe two sections when the main section 1s removed from the shoe, substantially as described- 5. A-sectional last embracingafore part consisting of a main section and a separable side section divided'theref'romyby vertical cuts, means comprising a tongue and groove connection for: holding said parts firmly'togetherin operative position, while allowing their complete separation whenthe main section is withdrawn from the shoe, and a spring-pressed plnnger arranged 'inthe main section to thrustlforwardtheside section, substantially as described.

In witness whereof; we have subscribed the above specification. ELMER-J. BLISS.

EDWARD F. WHITE. In the presenceof I N. W. Errnneon, K. T. I'IABTNETT. 

